Ignition apparatus



July 29, 1958 L P. KONGSTED 2,845,550

IGNITION APPARATUS Filed Jan. 25, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet l (IGNITION cbu.)

STEP-UP GENERATING com Twxwsrowamcg '2 g v .sPAIzK J g 8 A PLUG N u 'l RQ 'RECTHIER DISTRIBUTOR TO OTHER cows s STARTING BREAKER INVENTOR.

LUDVIG P. KONGSTED ATTOPNEK July 29, 1958 L. P. KONGSTED IGNITIONAPPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 25, 1955 INVENTOR. LUDVIG P.KONGSTED A T TOP/VEK L. P. KONGSTED IGNITION APPARATUS July 29, 1958Filed Jan. 25, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. LUDVIG F. KONGSTEDATTOPNLY July 29, 1958 L. P. KONGSTED 2,845,550

-' IGNITION APPARATUS Filed Jan. 25, 1955 6 Shets-Sheet 4 I INVENTOR.LUDVIG P. KONGSTED F i ww ATTO P/VEY July 29, 1958 L. P. KONGSTEDIGNITION APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 25, 1955 INVENTOR. LUDVIGP. KO NGSTED 7 ATTOPNE3 July 29, 1958 1.; P. KONG'STED I 2,845,550

IGNITION APPARATUS Filed Jan. 25 1955 6 Sheet-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. LUDVIG PKONGSTED I I 4MI ATroz/vax United States Patent IGNITION APPARATUSLudvig P. Kongsted, Longmeadow, Mass., assignor to American Bosch ArmaCorporation, a corporation of New York Application January 25, 1955,Serial No. 483,873 4 Claims. (Cl. 310-70) This invention relates toignition apparatus for internal combustion engines or the like and hasparticular reference to a new and improved self-contained ignitionapparatus or system which in its normal running operation does notemploy breaker or contact points.

Contact points and breaker points as used in breakers have been a sourceof trouble due to burning or pitting of the points and have preventedmagneto and battery ignition systems, which require such points, fromrendering long uninterrupted service.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved ignition apparatus and system which utilizes contact points andbreaker points for starting purposes only and therefore provides a newand improved ignition system or apparatus which is particularly adaptedto provide long uninterrupted service.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic wiring diagram of a form of the apparatus orsystem embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 3 is an end view thereof taken from the drive end;

Fig. 4 is an end view thereof from the end opposite that shown in.Fig.3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4. I

looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is an end view of the breaker and condenser mechanism used forstarting;

Fig. 8 is a top view of the rectifier;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 5, looking in thedirection of the arrows; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 5, looking inthe direction of the arrows.

The present invention comprises a magnetic rotor sulficiently large togenerate a current pulse which when fed into'the primary circuit of astepup transformer is sutliciently strong to generate a high voltagespark in a secondary Winding without the use of breaker points and acondenser while in normal running operation.

In the present apparatus breaker points are used only at low crankingspeeds in order to obtain the benefit of steep wave front pulsesgenerated in normal magneto fashion, but such breaker and contact pointsare automatically cut out of the circuit at normal running speeds of theapparatus and thereby avoid wear and tear of the points and permit theapparatus to operate as a pulse generator.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout, the apparatus shownembodying the invention comprises a housing 10 in which is journalledthe magnetic rotor 11 which rotor comprises two independent magnets 13located diametrically opposite. Each of these magnets has its set oflaminated pole shoes 12 so arranged as to cause a reversal of fluxthrough the ICC generating coils as the rotor sweeps past in properspaced relationship and are so polarized that the direction of reversalof the flux is always the same.

The stator 14 is positioned relative to the magnetic rotor 11 and thestator 14 has the two generating coils 15 which are located for evenfiring at apart with each of the generating coils 15 adapted to feedone-half the number of cylinders of the internal combustion engine orthe like for which the apparatus is intended to supply ignition.

The distributor rotor 16 is journalled in parallel spaced relationrelative to the magnetic rotor 11.

The distributor rotor 16 has the collector rings 17 adjacent itsopposite ends and the contacts or inserts 17b which are positionedwithin rotor 16 with the surface of the inserts flush with the surfaceof the rotor. Each of the collector rings 17 is connected to one-half ofthe inserts or segments 17b through the connectors.

18 and is adapted to supply current to its respective set or series ofinserts.

The inserts or segments 17b are so positioned on the distributor rotor16 as to engage the contact brushes 19 in proper sequence to feed thestepup transformer coils located at or near the engine spark plugs.

Each of the generating coils 15 feeds its respective collector ring 17to which it is connected by a conductor 17a, and therethrough its halfsection of the inserts or segments on the distributor rotor.

The magnetic rotor 11 is operatively connected to the engine in theusual manner and the magnetic rotor 11 and distributor rotor 16 areoperatively connected by means of the chain or timing belt drive 20which engage sprockets 21 on rotor 11 and 22 on distributor rotor 16respectively and such a drive insures proper relationship or timing andspeed of rotation of distributor rotor 16 relative to magnetic rotor 11.

Each of the generating coils 15 is connected to its own rectifier 23,which rectifier is preferably of the selenium dry plate, to obtain asingle unidirectional current pulse, as generated by the flux reversal,it is necessary to use a rectifier in the circuit so as to bypass thecurrent pulses of opposite polarity which are generated. The rectifiersare connected in parallel or across the generating coil in such a manneras to block the maximum or useful current pulse and short circuit theother pulses of opposite polarity thus forcing the useful primary pulseto enter the primary winding of the stepup transformer.

Connected with each of the generating coils 15 is a condenser 24 each ofwhich is connected to a breaker 25 which normally remains open ratherthan closed.

On the end of magnetic rotor 11 is provided the extension 26 on which ispositioned the centrifugal governor mechanism 27 consisting of thecentrifugal weights 28 on the pivot 29 which extends into slots 30 onactuating member 31 which has a cam portion 32 adapted to engage thesliding pins 33 for urging each of the breakers 25 into operation duringeach revolution of the magnetic rotor at low cranking speeds in propertimed relationship with the magnetic flux reversals of the rotor 11 andbrush contact of the distributor 16.

When the speed of rotation of the magnetic rotor 11 is suflicient toinsure a good current pulse without the use of the breakers, thecentrifugal weights 28 will pivot to the position shown in dotted linesin Fig. 9 which causes rotation of member 31 relative to the rotor shaftand because of pin 35 in cam slot 34, on the rotation of member 31, thecam 32 is retracted to a position at which it cannot cause pins 33 toengage breakers 25 to cause the breaker points to contact on rotation ofthe magnetic rotor. It will thus be seen that the breaker mechanism 25can only be caused to operate at low cranking speeds and that at higheroperating speeds, the

ments of various engines according to the number of cylinders of theengine and whether it has two or four cycle operation. Likewise thenumber of magnets on the magnetic rotor may be varied to suit enginerequirements and drive speed ratios.

In operation, the rotation of the magnetic rotor relative to thegenerating coils 15 supplies a properly timed current pulse through thecollector or slip rings 17 to the various inserts or segments 17]) byway of conductor 18. As the distributor rotor 16'and magnetic rotor 11are driven in proper speed and timing relationship,

current is supplied by each of the inserts 17b to its respective contactbrush 19 which contact brushes are connected to the stepup transformerof sufiicient strength or peak intensity to generate a high voltagespark in the secondary windings without the use of breaker points andcondensers while in normal running operation.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the condensers 24 and breakers25 are only employed at low cranking speeds beyond which they areautomatically eliminated from operation at which time the apparatusfunctions a magneto type of pulse generator without condensers andbreaker points and which is capable of rendering long uninterruptedservice due to the freedom from the inherent and well known difiicultiesobtained with breaker points during normal continuous operation of thedevice.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided new and improvedmeans for obtaining all of the objects and advantages of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a stator, a magnetic rotormounted for rotation relative to said stator, a distributor rotor,collector means on said distributor rotor and electrically connected tosaid stator, a. plurality of contacts on said distributor rotor, contactmembers adjacent said distributor rotor and each being adapted to makeelectrical contact with its respective distributor rotor contact uponrotation of said distributor rotor and means for driving saidmagneticrotor and distributor rotor in operative relation, contact meansadjacent one of said rotors and means on said rotor for actuating saidcontact means and centrifugally operative means on said rotor forrendering said breaker contact inoperative except at cranking speeds.

2. In a device of the character described, a stator, a

magnetic rotor in operative relation with said stator, a distributorrotor having collector means electrically connected to said stator, saiddistributor rotor having contacts connected with said collector meansand contact means adjacent said distributor rotor and adapted to beelectrically connected with said contact means on said rotor uponrotation of said rotor and means for driving said distributor rotor andsaid magnetic rotor in operative relation, breaker means adjacent saidmagnetic rotor and means operatively connected to said magnetic rotorfor actuating said breaker means and means automatically actuated bysaid magnetic rotor for rendering said breaker mechanism inoperativeexcept at cranking speeds.

3. In a device of the character described, a stator, a magnetic rotor inoperative relation with said stator, a distributor rotor havingcollector means electrically connected to said stator, said distributorrotor having contacts connected with said collector means and contactmeans adjacent said distributor rotor and adapted to be electricallyconnected with said contact means on' said rotor upon rotation of saidrotor, said magnetic rotor and distributor rotor being in spacedparallel relation and endless drive means connecting said rotors foreffecting rotation thereof in predetermined relation, breaker meansadjacent said magnetic rotor, means on said magnetic rotor for operatingsaid breaker means and means for rendering said breaker meansinoperative except at cranking speeds.

4. In a device of the character described, a stator, a magnetic rotor inoperative relationship with said stator, a distributor rotor operativelyconnected to said magnetic rotor whereby said rotors will be rotated inpredetermined relation, said distributor rotor having collector meansadapted to be energized by said stator and magnetic rotor, saiddistributor rotor having contact means electrically connected to saidcollector means and contact members adjacent said distributor rotor andadapted to be electrically connected to said contact means on saiddistributor rotor upon rotation of said distributor rotor, breaker meansadjacent one of said rotors and means on said rotor adjacent saidbreaker means for actuating said breaker means and means for renderingsaid breaker means inoperative except at low speeds.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,357,008 Stark Oct. 26, 1920 2,256,907 Ochsenbein Sept. 23, 19412,272,625 Spengler d. Feb. 10, 1942 2,531,961 Baines Nov. 28, 1950FOREIGN PATENTS 521,536 France Mar. 9, 1921

